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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH2

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH2 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-3
Panasonic FH2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS16
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH2 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH2, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the FH2 (14MP) is relatively close but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and FH2 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-5 was released within a month of the FH2 and they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FH2 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-5 grades against the FH2 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Panasonic FH2

 E-5 FH2 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH2 over the Olympus E-5

 FH2 E-5 

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic FH2

 E-5 FH2 
RevealedFebruary 2011January 2011Same generation
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-5 has got outside dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Panasonic FH2 has sizing of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") and a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-5 against the FH2.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH2 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-5 and FH2 is 58 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH2 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to envision the difference in sensor measurements simply by researching specs. The graphic here will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-5 and FH2.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-5 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic FH2 will render extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FH2 Portrait photography highlights
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
33
decent MP (14MP)
provides face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography advice
Panasonic FH2 Street photography advice
71
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
67
image stabilization (Optical)
supports touch to focus
lighter than competitors in class (121 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-5
Sports photography with Panasonic FH2
59
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
43
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
good battery power (270 per charge)
max frames per second low (4.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FH2 Travel photography factors
56
weather proofing
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
lack of Timelapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
72
good battery power (270 shots)
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
supports touch to focus
decent MP (14MP)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-5
Landscape photography with Panasonic FH2
65
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse mode
41
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
good battery power (270 CIPA)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual exposure not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-5
Vlogging with Panasonic FH2
64
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
includes external microphone jack
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
32
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Panasonic FH2
 Olympus E-5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FS16
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-02-03 2011-01-05
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V+ Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800g (1.76 lb) 121g (0.27 lb)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 photographs 270 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 2 Single
Price at launch $1,700 $149